A Celebration of Black People in the American Circus
Through June 2023
1st floor gallery
The Uncle Junior Project is proud to present its Entrapment to Entertainment exhibition, on display for the first time in a decade at the African American Art & Culture Complex.
Entrapment to Entertainment is a powerful exposé and celebration of the history of Black people in the American Circus. The exhibition features original costumes, archival film, powerful still images and contemporary art by acclaimed Bay Area contemporary artists.
People of African descent have a rich history in the ring, with a legacy spanning P.T. Barnum’s claim to fame Joice Heth; conjoined twins Millie Christine McKoy, who were born into slavery; the Ringling Brothers’ debut of the first Black aerial act, Satin; and continuing today with Universoul Circus, the nation’s only African American-owned circus. Entrapment to Entertainment offers an opportunity to discover and honor the achievements of the many extraordinary individuals and groups in the African American circus community.
Curated by Uncle Junior Project founder Veronica Blair, this exhibition profiles performers of African descent, including Emanuel “Junior” Ruffin, Bernice Collins, King Charles Unicycle Troupe, Vanessa Thomas-Smith, and Satin, the first Black female aerial act of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The retrospective captures these artists’ essence in four acts: Beginnings, Inspiration, Narrative, and Experience.
This exhibition was made possible with support from the San Francisco Arts Commission, Grants for the Arts, the Dream Keeper Initiative, and the Circus Center.
